Problem with turntable/cartridge?


Hello all,

I have noticed that my CD player provides a much greater sense of the attack of notes, especially piano notes, than does my turntable. I use a Jeff Rowland Concerto integrated amp, a Rega P25 with a Benz Micro cartridge and PS Audio phono section. Is there something inherently incompatible about my analog components? I'd appreciate any input, help, comments, suggestions, etc.

By the way, my CD player is the fabulous, but little known, Opus 21 by REsolution Audio.

Thanks in advance.

russ
rustler
Possibly a speed issue. When piano doesn't sound right; that's a clue that speed or speed control of the platter is off a bit. You can search the threads on speed control. A lot of discussion exists on this topic. If you have a test record with a 3150Hz test tone and an iPhone, then you can download a great app that will analyze the test tone and tell you the exact platter speed of your tt as well as variation of the speed over time. Other, more expensive but good devices out there to analyze platter speed. As I got more involved in platter speed, I learned that my small strobodisc and fluorescent light was inadequate. A full size strobodisc would be a good start. That will provide more precision.
Your Benz Micro H2 has 2.5mv output and is designed to run into a MM input. Loading should be 47k.
The other thing to check is the VTA, from memory my friends Benz Glider on a Rega required either a 1.5mm or 2mm spacer under the arm pillar to get the VTA correct.
To add VTA on the fly for Rega tonearms, and others, see Pete Riggle's site, http://www.vtaf.com/vtafdescription.html